Chewton is home to this holiday home. Boomtown and Bress Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Wesley Hill Market and The Mill Castlemaine. Buda Historic Home & Garden and Victorian Goldfields Railway - Castlemain Station are also worth visiting.
Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Chewton H86 Bushland Reserve - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
Old Castlemaine Gaol - 9 min drive - 7.6 km
Lake Daylesford - 36 min drive - 52.8 km
Bendigo Racecourse - 46 min drive - 56.2 km
Getting around
Castlemaine Station - 6 min drive
Bendigo, VIC (BXG) - 49 min drive
Restaurants
Doveton Corner Store - 7 min drive
Five Flags Hotel - 10 min drive
The Railway Hotel Castlemaine - 7 min drive
Love Shack Brewing - 5 min drive
Coffee Basics Das Kaffeehaus - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Riversdale Retreat - country escape pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?
As of 25 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Riversdale Retreat - country escape on 4 Dec 2026 start from AU$870, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Riversdale Retreat - country escape located?
Situated in Chewton, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, Chewton H86 Bushland Reserve and Wesley Hill Market. Chewton Bushland Reserve and Chewton H8A Bushland Reserve are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We were grateful this property was available for the king's birthday long weekend. The fire creates a special ambience and spreads warmth throughout the house. The kitchen was well equipped and user friendly. A very cosy, fun, private and unique space.
We had a lovely stay at Riversdale retreat.
my only concern was clambering up the uneven stone steps to the front door at 11.00 pm!!
A quirky ,well planned holiday retreat.Fire was very cosy & the bed very comfortable..
Long weekend to soak up ambience an dabble in some artistic pursuits. Lovely secluded setting but not too far from Castlemaine and Chewton. Second bedroom a bit small. Probably better for couples.
Check in very smooth - and lovely having the fire Beautiful setting and interesting house However we didn’t realise that the person in the small bedroom has to walk thru the main bedroom to access the bathroom and the toilet which is an issue at night when guests not family members
Its the perfect location to be away from things in a beautiful quiet bush setting and close enough to go on adventures and do day trips. All of the necessary things have been thought through in the house. Loved the fireplace.
We had a beautiful stay at this property. The perfect country get away. We loved how isolated the location felt, yet it was only a few minutes drive to Castlemaine. The kitchen was fully functioning, the views were breathtaking and the fireplace made it cosy and warm. Would definitely come again.
Unique accommodation with everything we needed. Wonderful open fire and deep bathtub! Short drive to Castlemaine. Very quiet with the only sound being the wildlife. We loved it. The only thing I would say is that you need a curtain in the bedroom to keep out the light when wanting a sleep in.
The place is really beautiful. We saw many kangaroos around the house. The design is unique. However, there was no curtain so felt a bit uncomfortable. 😅
The property has been very cleverly designed in terms of space, storage, sliding walls doors and levels and blends well into the natural environment . The decorating is incredibly thoughtful, Japanese influenced and minimalist, and yet still cosy. As a curious aside, we’d LOVE to know the meaning behind the random collection of large letters displayed in the kitchen and bedroom! It amused us for hours! We really enjoyed the fire and feeling of being amongst the trees - while settled into the couch opposite the fire as windows on three sides were filled w trees and sky! While the property’s reliance on rainwater makes the request to be sparing with baths and amount of water used if they are taken (a few inches) - it’d be good to know if/when baths are an option - ie. there’s enough in the tank! ! As the pic on the website was an enticing reason we chose the property - but we’d assumed for a soak! And didn’t feel comfortable using it in this way given the instructions. The location is great - as when in it you feel remote, but it’s close to Chewton and a quick drive into Castlemaine and all the region has to enjoy. Would definitely recommend.
We had a wonderful long weekend at Chewton, highlighted by drinking wine by the firepit at sunset as the stars started to light up the sky. With a large mob of kangaroos in the paddock next to the property. A delightful degustation dinner at Bar Midland was delicious, and we took the steam train to Maldon for brunch and then rode back (17km) on the bikes we hired. Lovely place. Lovely experiences.
Great experience. Lots of interesting design features and an overall atmosphere of calm and solitude.
Kitchen is well decked out and the outdoor areas are great.
Had a couple of gnarly run ins with huntsman spiders, but that’s part and parcel of staying in the bush.
Riversdale Retreat is an excellent getaway for two.
The house has a full kitchen, lounge room with wood heater, bedroom with electric blankets, all within the victoria bush.
We found our stay at the retreat very enjoyable. Others have mentioned that it can see that road, and while that's true the road gets about 1 car every 3 hours down it, so its not a big deal.
The hosts have placed appropriate signage around to ensure that the place stays clean as well as letting you know the tips and tricks with the house.
We had plenty of firewood for the fire (needed in the middle of victoria's winter) and once the fire gets going it heats the lounge room, the spare room, and the bedroom.
Both the toilet and shower room have a wall heater in them and had fresh towels.
While we cooked basic meals on the Monday and Tuesday (note its a country area and finding restaurants open on Monday and Tuesday night is very hard) and the kitchen had everything we needed (except for a whisky glass, but we made do :p)
Over all a very enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend and will return.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2021
Hey thanks for your great review
Come again soon!
Cheers
Sharon
What a lovely property to spend a few days in peace & quiet. A very comfortable place to stay, with easy access to Castlemaine. The management team were responsive to requests and communicated clearly. The house was also very clean upon arrival
We need a post COVID break, and found this gem. Perfectly located in a quiet bush block (you feel like you're in the trees), with a proper kitchen and lovely wood fire - just what we needed. Found some great walks in the nearby old goldfields and at Mt Alexander - so we know we earned those beers and wines! Loved it.